Tired or fired - the Irish question

Friday 7 November 2003 20.55 EST
First published on Friday 7 November 2003 20.55 EST

France arrived here from Sydney yesterday to prepare for tomorrow's quarter-final against Ireland almost unannounced and they are the only one of the four sides expected to reach the semi-finals who have not come under any real scrutiny so far.

That is partly because of the lack of opposition in their group but also because, at 9-1 with the bookies, the French are unfancied after a lacklustre Six Nations Championship was followed by two defeats in Argentina. And they only just managed to beat England's second string two months ago.

Australia, England and New Zealand have all been given frights and critical reviews but France's progress has been serene. They will be given their sternest examination, however, by an Ireland side whose previous two matches against Argentina and Australia went to the wire.

Bernard Laporte, France's coach, has spent the last two years preparing for this month. His side do not play with the traditional French elan after he decided that the team with the best defensive record would win the World Cup.

France resemble the England of old with deliberation stamped in everything they do. They prefer to attack off turnover possession when defensive lines are disorganised and to that end they push up quickly and look to isolate ball-carriers.

They keep risk to a minimum, rarely moving the ball in their own territory, and a side which used to play passing rugby with the swagger of Fiji are now more calculating. Their forwards, or beasts as they were once called, have developed an uncharacteristic tendency to turn the other cheek in the face of provocationhaving been only too willing to mix it in the past.

They have had to because Laporte has said he will drop any player who commits an act of foul play and the French eight is full of reformed characters, such as the prop Jean-Jacques Crenca, who missed the last World Cup through a because he was suspended for stamping on a New Zealand opponent's head.

"I used to have a philosophy of an eye for an eye," said Crenca. "My first reaction when provoked was always to give one back but now I realise it is up to the referee to sort things out, not me.

"I used to really psyche myself up before matches and it made for too much negative energy. The coach warned me that I would be out on my ear after just one act of violent play and now I am more relaxed before a match. The whole team is like that; we realise that indiscretions cost points."

Few here appreciate what drives Laporte, though Ireland's coach Eddie O'Sullivan recognises the changed nature of France and believes they are a far more dangerous side because they are no longer easily distracted, though the Irish will surely test that new resolve to the limit.

"They have a big, powerful set of forwards and I do not expect us to nick as much line-out ball from them as we did against Argentina and Australia," said O'Sullivan.

"They have pace and power behind the scrum and are more disciplined than they ever were: they are capable of beating ayone in the world if they get things right."

France have two main concerns: their recent record against Ireland - three defeats in the last four matches - and their lack of meaningful opposition in the group stage, where Fiji proved more dangerous than Scotland.

"Ireland have been the surprise of this World Cup," said the France flanker Serge Betsen. "I did not expect them to play to such a high standard and they are a far better side than the one which beat us in Dublin earlier this year."

Ireland, if they are to have any chance of making their first semi-final, will need to gain the ascendancy in the two set-pieces. Their lineout so far has been the best of any side in the tournament with a 94% efficiency rate and they have a resourceful front row.

Where France have a clear advantage is behind the scrum. Ireland struggled to fashion openings against Argentina and Australia with their two tries coming from an opposition mistake and a moment of brilliance from Brian O'Driscoll.

They are without two of their most creative backs in the wing Denis Hickie and full-back Geordan Murphy, and are overly reliant on O'Driscoll. They will need to play a territorial game and hope that the outside-half Ronan O'Gara is more accurate with his goal-kicking than last week.

Ireland have to keep it tight to minimise the danger of turning possession over and allowing France to counter- attack. The more structured the game is, the better the chances of O'Sullivan's men winning through.

"The two sides are well matched," said Ireland's captain Keith Wood. "We both set importance on scrummaging and I hope the referee allows us to get on with it. And the lineout will be another keenly contested battle. It's all or nothing now and we don't want to go home yet."

The question is whether Ireland are battle weary or battle hardened. It promises to be the closest of the quarter-finals but France, as long as their outside-half Frédéric Michalak manages to evade the Irish loose trio, should make their extra class behind tell.

· Ireland were embroiled in a row with World Cup organisers yesterday over training time at the Telstra Dome. Their coach Eddie O'Sullivan was angry that they were not allowed their full three hours yesterday morning and that they had to get off early to allow the All Blacks on. But officials said the Irish originally asked for an afternoon slot, only to change their minds.